In the midst of the Pittsburgh Steelers Week 18 victory over the Cleveland Browns, second-year tight end, Pat Freiermuth left the game with a knee injury. He was ruled out for the remainder of the game almost immediately, providing worry that the injury was significant. With knee injuries, the first worry is always a torn ACL. Thankfully, that doesn't seem to be the case.
Credit: Jordan Schofield/SteelerNation (JSKO_PHOTO Twitter)
Head coach, Mike Tomlin held a press conference Monday, to which he clarified that Freiermuth only suffered a sprained MCL. A huge sigh of relief for Steelers fans. He will not need any surgery, as it will just take some time to heal. A torn ACL would have likely forced him to miss the start of the 2023 season. Now, he can just heal this knee injury within a few weeks or months in the off-season.
In just his second season in the pros, Freiermuth finished sixth amongst tight ends in receiving yards (732) in the NFL. The Penn State product also tacked on 63 catches and two more touchdowns, an aspect of his game that he can improve at in 2023. He developed a chemistry with quarterback, Kenny Pickett in 2022 though, something fans can look forward to watching for years.
On another positive note, when Freiermuth went down, rookie Connor Heyward stepped in admirably. He caught a career-high three passes for 45 yards, as well as picking up a first down on a six-yard reverse. It was his second carry of the season, both of which picked up first downs in crucial moments. Overall, he finished with 12 catches for 151 yards and a touchdown in his rookie year.
Steelers rookie Connor Heyward filled in quite well for Pat Freiermuth in the Week 18 win, racking up three catches for 45 yards. Credit: Jordan Schofield/SteelerNation (JSKO_PHOTO Twitter)
That's not bad for a sixth-round rookie who was the Steelers' third-string tight end. Heyward got more and more playing time as the season went on, indicating he may have an even bigger role next season. If so, Heyward and Freiermuth can become quite the receiving duo at tight end. Zach Gentry brings the blocking to the group, providing the team with a very good trio at TE.
What are your expectations for Freiermuth's third NFL season in 2023? What about Heyward's sophomore campaign? Can these two become one of the best TE duos in the league? Share your thoughts in the comment section below, as well as on our social media sites!
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